Yeong-ha Ko

Yeong-ha is confident, mischievous and frequently arrogant. He enjoys provoking people, particularly when he notices that a subject matters deeply to them, but usually maintains a composed exterior while doing so.

His behavior can make him appear more dismissive than he really is. Beneath the teasing, he studies Go seriously, reads game records and respects strength. He is not careless about his career simply because he enjoys irritating opponents.

Yeong-ha is also perceptive about other players. He quickly understands how emotionally invested Hikaru is in the history of Go and deliberately exploits that sensitivity during the tension surrounding the Hokuto Cup.

Yeong-ha is one of Korea's leading young professionals. Before the Hokuto Cup, he has already advanced deeply into major domestic competition, giving him considerably more high-level experience than many players his age.

His Go combines strong reading with the confidence to play difficult positions against elite opposition. Kouyou Touya compares his ability with Akira's after playing him, placing Yeong-ha among the strongest young professionals introduced in the series.

He is also an avid student of recorded games. His habit of reading game records reflects the serious work behind the casual, provocative personality he presents socially.

Yeong-ha enters the story in connection with the Hokuto Cup, where Korea fields an exceptionally strong youth team. His reputation makes him the player Japan expects to face on first board.

A poorly translated interview creates controversy when remarks attributed to Yeong-ha appear to insult the historical master Honinbou Shuusaku. After learning how strongly Hikaru reacts, Yeong-ha deliberately continues provoking him rather than immediately clearing up the misunderstanding.

Hikaru insists on playing first board against Yeong-ha in the Japan-Korea match. Their game becomes extremely close, with Yeong-ha ultimately winning by half a point. Afterward, Hikaru explains that he plays Go to connect the distant past with the distant future, and Yeong-ha quietly responds that this may be why all of them are there.

Hikaru Shindou becomes Yeong-ha's Japanese rival during the Hokuto Cup. Yeong-ha deliberately provokes Hikaru Shindou over Shuusaku, and later defeats him by only half a point.

Suyong Hong is Yeong-ha's friend and fellow Korean professional. Suyong Hong respects Yeong-ha's strength while becoming irritated by his habit of provoking other people.

Kouyou Touya plays Yeong-ha after leaving regular Japanese professional competition and judges his ability highly.

Akira Touya is another elite young professional against whom Yeong-ha's strength is measured, particularly by Kouyou.